ANCIENT THEATRE OF EPIDAURUS: 31 July, 1 August

Susa is in a state of unrest. The Chorus expresses fears concerning the expedition against the Greeks. Queen Atossa relates an ominous dream, intensifying the suspense. A messenger arrives, announcing the crushing defeat of the Persians at Salamis.  The Chorus invokes the help of the dead King Darius. At the end of the tragedy Xerxes himself appears, having survived the defeat for which he was responsible.

The Persians is the world’s oldest surviving drama, a tragedy uniquely based not on mythology but on a historical event, the defeat of the Persians at the battle of Salamis in 480 BC.

Following his renowned production of The Persians at the Deutsches Theater in Berlin, which received the German language production of the year award in 2006, internationally acclaimed director Dimiter Gotscheff continues his investigation of the works of Aeschylus. In this, his first production at the Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus, Dimiter Gotscheff is working with a stellar ensemble of leading Greek actors.

Production sponsor: Goethe-Institut Athen